Russia says it began preparations for military exercise in response to Western ‘provocations, threats’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia said on Monday that it began preparations for a military exercise involving the country’s non-strategic nuclear weapons in response to what it described as Western “provocations and threats.”

A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said that preparations began for holding an exercise in the near future with missile formations of the country’s southern military district, together with the involvement of the country’s aviation and navy.

Indicating that the exercise was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the statement said it aimed to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions.”

“During the exercise, a set of activities will be carried out to practice the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” the statement further said.

It also said that the exercise aims to ensure Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “in response to provocative statements and threats by individual Western officials against the Russian Federation.”